In this section

1516

[William Mosse of Friskney, a.d. 1516.]

[1520–31, 56.]

THE TESTAMENT OF W. MOSE.

15 April, 1516. I William Mosse off fryskney, seke in body, makyth
my testament, etc. To Thomas my sone vj kye, iiij sterys, and iiij
burlynges, ij marys, and ij staggys. I wyll that Beterys my wyff have
my house and my landes affter the dethe off John mosse my father duryng
hyr lyff. And affter hyr lyff I will that the sayd house and landes
retorne to Thomas my sone or to the ryght heyres off me William Mosse
for ever. The Residue off my goodes not bequethyd I will that beteres
my wyff have the disposicyon theroff, whome I make my sole executrix,
she to pay my dettes and disposse for the helth off my soule. Wytnes
heroff, sir Thomas ryder and margaret Weste.

Proved before P., in the parish church of Spillesby, 4 Oct., 1527.
Adm. granted to the executrix.

[John Longe of Croft, a.d. 1516.]

[1506 &c., 48.]

THE LAST WILL OF JOHN LONG OF CROFT.

Thys is the last wyll of me John long of Crofte, made 9 January,
1516, after the manner and custom of the lordshyppe of Crofte. I have
gyffyn up all landes and tenementes in crofte before Thomas dorpe,
Baly, and iiij tenandes of the same, that is to say, Thomas larke, Rychard
kelsey, William redder' and Edward Hamlett. Also I wyll after the
manner of the lordshype they have all the profits of the saide landes the
space of ij yeres next folowyng after my descesse to the performance
of my testament and my last will. Also I wyll that a meisse and xxviij
acers and iij rodes latly purchased of Thomas marley, and vij acres
purchased of Walter Waterlad, and iiij acres and iij rodes purchased of
Thomas balysun, and vj acres callyd northe croftes, be in the handes of
my feffys and ther yeres for ever with all oder landes that I wyll myn
executors shall purchase to the valor of viij markes clere or better and
all charges borne, for the intent that the sayde feffys shall with the
lycence of the lorde and hys consell make a donatyffe to contynew for
ever, makyng fyne with the lordes and ther eyres at the end of every
iiij score and xix yere, and so to contynewe for xxiiij [sic] and xix yeres,
and from xxiiij [sic] and xix yeres for ever. And this ys for ij speciall
causys, one ys for prayer, the secund ys for the mayntenynge of the
servyce of god of the haleday; ffyrst I will that Sir William gybson
imediately after my discesse shall say and syng dyvyne servys in the
chyrche of Croft, and messe in the chapel of sent nycolas, duryng hys
lyffe natural, and after hys decesse other preistes hys successors for
ever, yf he or they be nott lettyd be seyknes or some oder lawfull causes,
for the good estate of Syr gorge Taylboys kynght and Dame Elyzabethe
hys wytte, master gylberd taylboys and maister William and all theyer
chyldern, and all them that be of the counsell of the sayde Sir Gorge
Taylboys and his eyeres, and all the benefactors and maynteners of the
deuyne servys in the saide chyrche of Crofte, and for the soles of Syr
Roberd Taylboys knyght and Dame Elizabethe hys wyffe, Sir William
gascone knyght and Dame Margarytt hys wyffe, and for the sole of
maister Water taylboys esquier, and also for the sole of me John long
and Helene my wyffe, Thomas long and rose hys wyffe my fader and
moder, Syr John Cutteler clarke, John Halldyng, Walter Turtyll, and
all crystyn sowells; In espesiall for all them that be a lyve or dede of
wom I have had hany helpe or succure of, be any condiscione, and for all
them beyng on lyffe or dede to wome I have mayd any defautte to, be
any condicion, and for all my feffeis, etc.; and that the sayde Sir
William Gybsun and hys successors say ons in every monythe in the
yere yerely for every [sic] a messe callyd salus populy for the preservation
of all them before namyd, and ons in every monythe yerly for ever to say
placebo and dirige and messe of Requiem for all the soles a fore saide
and all crysten soles. Also I wyll the saide Sir William and hys successors
shall yerely for ever kepe an obiit or an anniversary in the chyrche of
Crofte the xxiij day of the monyghe of Januarij with placebo and dirge
and messe of Requiem for the sowles of me John long and Helene my
wyfe, Thomas long and Rose hys wyffe my fader and moder, and John
Haldyn, and all crystyn sowles, praying [sic] yerely to the curate of the
same day viijd. Also paying yerely for puttyng the sayde John long and
Helen, Thomas, Rose and John Haldyng in the sunday beedrowlle
viijd., to the clarke ijd., to xiij poore men and women xiijd., to Ryngers
of the bellys xvjd., and A taper of wax to be sett upon the herce ijd.,
and also for seerge to burne before the sacrament in the [folio 48d.]
qwere, and ij Ryndylles of wax in the chyrche, one be for sente sayuewr
and an oder before sent Xp'opher ijs., also to the sepulcar lyght
iiijd., to the peryssheng' of Crofte one day in Rogacione weike in brede
and ale xijd., to ayther of the kyrkmasteres for seyng that the good order
be kept of my obiit ijd., and the sayde expensis of myn obiit shall be
takyn yerly of vj acr' land northe croftes, and the resydew of the sayd
vj acr', all costes and charges borne, shall go to the reparacions of the
altar of sent Nycolas ever when nede requyryth. Also I wyll that Sir
William and hys successors shall ever when nede is kepte [sic] the altar
of sent Nycolas in honorment with messe boke, chalyce, vestyment,
alterclothes, towylles, with oder thynges necessary to the sayde alter,
and indefeccion of any of these things be fore wryttyn to be amended
at the syght of my feffeis. Also the saide Sir William gybson for the
terme of lyffe natural shall receive all the profettes of the sayde xlvi acres
and a half that I have purchased, with all oder landes that I wyll myn
executors shall purches to the said donatyfe, to hys awne use, and after
hym all hys successors in like manner, etc. Yf it fortune the sayde
landes to dekey with these or any oder charges as is sayde before that
may fortune to the sayde donatyfe be any condition so that the prest
wages cannot be yerely of the valore of viij markes all charges borne,
then be the syght of my feffis it shall be lefull to the saide Sir William
and his successors to take any spirytuall servyce in the towne of Crofte
to the complement and fullfilling of this sayde viij markes and no more
excepte it be fore the reparations and honorworment of the alter of sent
nycholas, and that to be downe be the shyght of my feffis. Also I wyll
that the sayde Sir William and hys successors shall have libertie to go
pilgramege to Rome, to seynt James or any oder pilgramayge when he or
they be disposyd, so that he or they be vertuowse and goo in good intent.
Also I wyll that the sayde Sir William and hys successors one monethe
in every yere to go to his frendes and make merie with them inhoneste.
Also I wyll that the sayde Sir William and hys successors beyng ons
promotyd unto thys service shall never be putte owte frome thys servyce,
neyther for seikness nor for none oder debilite of hys body except for
shuche causys if they may be fun' in them and evydently provyd before
theyr ordinary where by they may or awght to be putt frome theyr
servyce by the lawe and good concience. Allso I wyll when it shall
fortune the sayde Sir Wylliam and hys successors to dissesse or go away
for any causis provyd before the ordinary, that then after suche discesse
or movyng away it shall be lawfull for Sir gorge Taylboys, knyght, and
Dame Elizabeth his wyffe and theyr eyres here after, with the concent
and assent of my feffeis beyng at that tyme, to promote and putt in an
able preiste, and in especiall a syngyng man yf he may be goten, for the
mayntenyng of the servyce of god on the olyday [folio 49] within the
space one monethe nex folowyng, and so oftyn as it shall happyn the
saide preste after shuche discesse or amovyng not to be promotyd by
the space of one monythe to the sayde servyce, that then it shall be
lawfull to the vicar of Crofte beyng at that tyme a lawfull preiste to
promote within the space of xiiij days then next folowyng. And if that
so oftyn as it shall happyn the saide prest within the saide xiiij days not
to be promotyd by the vicar, that then and so oftyn it shall be lawfull
to the bysshope of Lincoln de diocisen' of that place to promote an abble
prest within the space of one monythe next after. And if that so oftyn
the saide prest by the bysshoppe be not promotyd to the servyce
as is afore saide within the space of one monethe next after, then it
shall be lawfull to the chyrche wardyns of Crofte that tyme beyng to
promote all [sic] able prest to syng and say dyvyne servyce in the chyrche
of Crofte for all the lyffe and soles aforesaide. Also I wyll that when
it shall fortune any of my feffes to discesse or go away to the number
of ij persons, Then thos ij persons remaynyng shall infeffe agayn
beforelsdars makyndg' [sic] in the Corwte other xij persons wonnyng
in Crofte In fee symple withoute any fien makyng for the space of iiij
score xix yeres, licence had of the lorde, and so to contynew for ever so
oftyn as the saide feffis discesse or go away to the number of ij persons,
and to continew in every articole as is before wrytting. Also I wyll that
the sayde Sir William and hys successors shall cause thys my last wyll
concernyng the preiste charges to be wryttyng and kepte in the chapyll
of sent Nycolas in the chyrche of Crofte, and there to be rede every yere
ons or tweysse before ij or iij of my feffis at the leste for ever; and when
the saide wryttyng impayrethe so that it cannot be rede, then I wyll
that the sayde Sir William and hys successors shall cause it to be well
and sufficiently wryttyng, under the payne for makyng any of these
deffects before say, to pay to the repraysons of the chyrche of Crofte
iiis. iiijd. Also I wyll that Agnes long my wyffe have my principall
messe and xxxiiij acres land and a rode there to belongyng in the name
of hyr dowrye for the terme of hyr lyffe naturall. And after the discesse
of the saide Agnes I wyll that Thomas Holland have the saide meisse
with xxxiiij acre land and a rode to hym his eyers and assyners. Also
I wyll that the saide Thomas have a meisse and xj acre and di', late
William Hobsons, with ij acre iij rode callyd Robcrofte, to hym to hys
eres and assines. I wyll that yf it so fortune the said Thomas Holland
to discesse withoute eyres that it remayne to Helene hys syster. And
yf it so be that they bowthe discesse withoute eyres, then I wyll the
foresaide landes be sellyd and disposyd for the elthe of sowlle and all
crystyn soles, and the thyrd peny to be gyffyn to my kynderryd. Also
I wyll that John Ryder the yoner have a meisse and ix acre land and a
rode callyd Kerk howsse to hym to hys eyres and assines, payyng yerly
therfore to my prest duryng the space of xx yeres xiijs. iiijd. And to
the sepulcar lyght [folio 49d.] during the same yeres iiijd. And fore lake
of payment of the saide rentis I wyll myn executors enter the said landes
and streyne, And the stresse so takyng to withhold to the said renttes
with all oder offences be fully content and payde. I wyll that John
Bawdre have a meisse and iij acre landes and a rode, late purchasyd of
Thomas Balyson, to hym to hys eyres and assynes.

[No probate act.]

[Robert Benn of Frieston, a.d. 1516.]

[1545–6, ii, 127.]

ROBERT BENNE.

19 February, 1516. I Robert Benn of Freston make and ordey
my testament concludinge therein my last will, etc. My body to be
buried in the church yarde of St. James in Freston the holy appostle;
also my best beast for my mortuarie; alsoe to our mother church of
Lincoln iiijd.; alsoe to the high aulture in Freston for tyth forgotten
iiijd.; also to the blessed sacrament theire ijd.; alsoe to the Image of
Sainct James ijd.; alsoe to the trinitie altare ijd.; alsoe to the light of
our ladye in the parishe quier ijd.; alsoe to St. Syth a wax candle of one
pounde; alsoe to St. Thomas a candle of halfe a pounde wax; alsoe to
our lady of walsingham iiijd.; alsoe to our lady of Doncaster iiijd.; alsoe
I will that myne exequutors cause thre dirgies be songe in the parishe
church of Freston for the helth of my soule with in the yeare after my
decease; also I will that Mr. Prior of Freston and his brethren theireof
of their charitie doe mete my body at the church dore after my decease,
and theire to geve me absolucion, and so bringe me into the kirke with
praier and devocion, and to have for their labor iijs. iiijd. To the iiij
orders of ffreers in Bostonne iiijs., that is to saie to everie ordre xijd.
To George and Richard my sonnes my carte and my plough with all the
tirementes and harnes that belongeth to theim, etc. I give xijl. to
be devided to iiij of my children, to George Benne iijl., to Richard Benn
iijl., to Jennet Simpson iijl., and too Isabell Ben iijl. Also I give to Agnes
Crosley my eldest daughter a gray fillie of two years old, or els viijs.
of lawfull monney. To John Crosley. To Robert Crosley. To Isabell
Crosley. To the children of John Gilbert of Butterwicke. To iij children
of John Benn of Kindam. To William Haggas my servaunte iiij
sheipe and a cowe burlinge. To Thomas Lawis my servaunte the stuffe
of householde that was his mothers. To William Benne my servaunte
a greater of my boyte, half the takill, hemp, etc. To Christen
my wyfe two acre of lande with the buildinge thereof called Mawde
greene, iij stong lande called greene gate, and iij stong land in pollour,
to have them the terme of hyr present lyfe, and after hyr decease I will
that the said lands, with other v stong lande called fforsey dale, remaine
to George Benn my sonn and to the heires of his body evermore; and yf
it fortune the sayde George to dye with out heires, then I will the sayde
lande remaine to Richard Benn my sonn in like manner. To the saide
Richarde a howse in kindham builded of one acre grounde, one acre and
one roode lande in West fielde, iij stonge lande in long greiff fielde, di'
acre in long furlonges, and a rood and half a rode in mikilham, to him and
his heirs of his body evermore, remainder to George Benn my sonne and
to his heires of his body; and yf it fortune bothe to dye with out heires
of theire bodyes then to remaine to my iij daughters afore rehersed and
to theire heires of theire bodyes evermore; yf soe be all my children dye
with out heires, then I will that all the foresayde land be solde by the
churchwardens of Frestonn that shalbe at that tyme, and monny therefore
taken spent in the church of Freston as they shall thinke best for the
helth of my soule, the helth of my father and mother soules, and all the
soules that I ame bounden to pray for. The residue of all my goodes I
will that Cristen my wyfe and Richard Ronister, whome I make exequutors, dispose soe that it be to the pleasure of god and helth of my soule.
Allsoe I give xxs. to the sayde Rychard Ronister for his labour. Also I
will that Mr. Geffrey Pannell be supervisor, and he to have xiijs. iiijd. for
his labour. Theise witnesses, Sir John Simson of Freston prest, Richard
Pyshe and Richard Benn of the same, and other moe.

Proved before H., at Boston, 16 Dec., 1518. Adm. granted to
the executors.